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Ohio State Crowned Preseason No. 1: The Hunt for the Buckeyes Begins
College Football 2026: The Preseason Coaches Poll Explained Simply
Updated August 4, 2026
What Is This All About?
Imagine before the school year starts, all the teachers get together and guess which students will get the best grades. That’s basically what the US LBM Coaches Poll is — but for college football!
Before any games are played, 72 head coaches vote on which teams they think will be the best this season. The results create a Top 25 ranking that gives fans something to talk about while they wait for the actual games to begin (which start in less than a month!).
Important Point: This is just a guess based on last year’s performance, returning players, and coaching changes. The real games will prove who’s actually the best!
The Big Headlines
Ohio State Starts at #1 — But History Says Be Careful!
- 38 out of 72 coaches voted the Buckeyes #1
- First time at preseason #1 since 2015
- But here’s the catch: Since 1991, only 4 teams have started #1 and finished #1
- Being the preseason favorite puts a huge target on your back!
Oregon Makes Program History
- Ranked #2 — the highest preseason ranking in school history
- Got 6 first-place votes
- Expected to battle Ohio State for the Big Ten title
The Defending Champs Are… #6?
- Indiana won the national championship last year
- But they start at #6 this season
- Fun fact: They actually got 14 first-place votes (second most!), but not enough total points to crack the top 5
SEC vs. Big Ten: The Conference Battle
| Conference | Teams in Top 25 |
|---|---|
| SEC | 9 teams (most of any conference) |
| Big Ten | 8 teams |
| Big 12 | 4 teams |
| ACC | Only 3 teams (Clemson at #23 — lowest since 2011) |
The Complete 2026 Preseason Top 25
Number in parentheses = first-place votes received
- Ohio State (38)
- Oregon (6)
- Georgia (7)
- Texas (2)
- Notre Dame (5)
- Indiana (14) — Defending National Champions
- Miami (FL)
- Texas A&M
- Oklahoma
- Mississippi (Ole Miss)
- Alabama — First time outside top 10 since 2008!
- Texas Tech
- LSU
- Southern California (USC)
- Brigham Young (BYU)
- Michigan
- Penn State
- Tennessee
- Washington
- SMU
- Utah
- Iowa
- Clemson
- Houston
- Missouri — Edged out Louisville for the final spot
Teams Just Missing the Cut ("Receiving Votes")
These teams got some votes but not enough to make the Top 25:
Louisville, Florida, TCU, Illinois, Arizona, South Carolina, Virginia, Vanderbilt, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Boise State, Oklahoma State, UNLV, Florida State, NC State, Nebraska, Virginia Tech, Memphis, Arizona State, Duke, James Madison, New Mexico, Pittsburgh, Navy, Western Michigan, San Diego State, California, Hawaii, Jacksonville State, Kansas State
Think of these as "honorable mentions" — they’re on the radar!
Why Does This Matter? (And Why Should You Take It With a Grain of Salt?)
The Good News
- Football is almost here! Real games start in weeks
- Gives fans a baseline for discussions and predictions
- Shows which conferences look strongest on paper (hello, SEC!)
The Reality Check
- Preseason #1 ≠ Champion (only 4/35 times since 1991)
- Coaches don’t watch every team closely — they’re busy coaching!
- Injuries, transfers, and breakout players change everything
- Last year’s preseason #1 was Texas — they didn’t win it all
Key Takeaway: Treat this as a conversation starter, not a crystal ball. The games are played on the field, not on paper!
Summary
- Ohio State is the preseason #1 with 38 first-place votes
- Oregon hits a program-high #2
- SEC dominates with 9 ranked teams vs. Big Ten’s 8
- Defending champ Indiana starts at #6 despite 14 first-place votes
- Alabama falls out of top 10 for first time since 2008
- Clemson at #23 is their lowest preseason rank since 2011
- Only 4 teams since 1991 have gone wire-to-wire as #1
- Real games start soon — that’s when the real rankings begin!
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Q: Who votes in this poll?
A: 72 head coaches from Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools — the highest level of college football. They submit their personal Top 25 ballots.
Q: How are points calculated?
A: #1 vote = 25 points, #2 = 24 points, down to #25 = 1 point. Teams are ranked by total points.
Q: Does this poll determine who plays for the championship?
A: No! This is just for fun and discussion. The actual College Football Playoff selection committee makes their own rankings later in the season based on actual game results.
Q: Why is Indiana ranked lower than teams they beat last year?
A: Polls look forward, not backward. Voters consider: lost players, new schedule, coaching changes, and how good opponents look this year.
Q: When is the next poll released?
A: Usually weekly during the season (often Sundays), reflecting how teams actually performed in games the day before.
Enjoy the season! Remember: every team is undefeated right now — and that’s the best part of August football.
